Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

I tell her, “I told Nik about Mia. ”

Her body locks, her eyes widen and she gasps, “No! Really?”

I nod, “Yeah, it was time. ”

A soft smile forms on her lips and she hugs me. She tells me, “I’m so proud of you. Mia isn’t a dirty secret, honey, she’s a beautiful memory. ”

Yeah, she is.

Ding Dong.

I love the new bell!

“Sorry, I’ll come back. ”

Nat and I part from our hug to see Ghost standing in the doorway looking uncomfortably at us.

Smiling at him, I say, “It was just a hug, Ghost. We weren’t doing it!”

He shifts from his left foot to his right foot looking indecisive then stalks over to me. He hands me a small box. I look up at him through narrowed eyes and ask, “Is this from Nik?”

Ghost shakes his head and blurts, “I don’t know—I just thought—It seemed important to you and I—Fuck, would you just open it?”

Ghost bought me something? Has the world gone mad?!

I moved back a few steps to the counter and place the box in the top. I carefully open it and gasp.

My hands cover my gaping mouth and tears stream down my face.

Ghost pales and quickly says, “Oh Fuck, Tina. I’m sorry. I thought you might like it. I’ll throw it out. Nik is gonna have my balls. ”

He reaches for the box and I shriek, “No!” I wipe tears from my cheeks and whisper hoarsely, “I love it. Thank you. ” I walk over to him, wrap my arms around his waist, and hug him tight. I feel his arm wrap around my shoulder and squeeze. Ghost hugged me. I can die in peace now.

Smiling, I release him from my clutches and walk back to the box. I take out the small ceramic urn and place it on the counter. I run my fingers across the engraved plaque.

Bear.

My favorite little guy is back with his mama. I suddenly feel lighter. I hadn’t noticed Ghost behind me til he says, “He was a good cat, huh?”

I nod and whisper, “He was my daughter’s cat. He was all I had left of her. ”

A long silence follows then I feel his hand squeeze my shoulder.

Ding Dong.

I don’t have to look back to know he’s gone. Nat sidles up next to me and hugs me round the waist and we both pay our silent respects to Bear.

After a while I ask Nat, “Still think Ghost doesn’t have a heart?”

She answers quietly, “I’m not sure of anything anymore. ”

I smile, kiss my fingertips and place them on the urn.

Love you, Bear.

***

Ghost storms into the conference room and slams the door behind him.